SFRP-3 Marker for Early Heart Failure Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current diagnostic methods for heart failure are inadequate for early detection, leading to late diagnosis and poor prognosis, with no established biochemical markers for pre-symptomatic assessment, resulting in high mortality rates and significant healthcare costs.

Innovation Solution

The use of secreted frizzled related protein 3 (SFRP-3) as a marker for assessing heart failure, combined with other markers, to measure concentrations in samples and compare them to control samples to aid in risk assessment, disease progression, and treatment selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current diagnostic methods are used for heart failure, then diagnosis is made, but detection occurs too late leading to poor prognosis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveearly detection capabilityVSAvoiddiagnosis timing

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using SFRP-3 as a biochemical marker to detect heart failure risk before clinical symptoms appear. The marker enables pre-symptomatic assessment and early intervention, shifting diagnosis from reactive (after symptoms) to proactive (before symptoms), thereby resolving the timing contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If no established biochemical markers are used, then diagnostic simplicity is maintained, but early detection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveearly detection reliabilityVSAvoiddiagnostic method complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by introducing a specific biochemical parameter (SFRP-3 concentration) that changes in response to heart failure risk. This measurable parameter transformation enables reliable early detection without requiring complex diagnostic systems, as the marker can be measured using standard biochemical assays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If late diagnosis occurs, then treatment is initiated, but mortality rates remain high and healthcare costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient outcomeVSAvoidintervention timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary action by detecting heart failure risk before symptom onset through SFRP-3 measurement. This allows treatment to be initiated in the pre-symptomatic phase, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs by preventing disease progression rather than treating advanced stages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8691587B2Use of SFRP-3 in the assessment of heart failure

Publication Date: 2014.04.08 THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIV OF TORONTO

AI summary

Disclosed is a method for assessing heart failure in vitro including the steps of measuring in a sample the concentration of the marker SFRP-3, of optionally measuring in the sample the concentration of one or more other marker(s) of heart failure, and of assessing heart failure by comparing the concentration determined in for SFRP-3 and the concentration(s) determined for the optionally one or more other marker to the concentration of this marker or these markers as established in a reference population. Also disclosed are the use of SFRP-3 as a marker protein in the assessment of heart failure, a marker combination comprising SFRP-3 and a kit for measuring SFRP-3.